Some More Blessings from Dad

“My dad had limitations. That's what my good-hearted mom always told us. He had limitations, but he meant no harm. It was kind of her to say, but he did do harm.” ― Gillian Flynn

Anjali was a chartered accountant and had a grown up married daughter. Having fulfilled her duties religiously she put in greater efforts and time into her job. Her job was a second home for her, perhaps a family. It is so for most of the people. One enters a job with apprehensions as a young employee. The job then has  a lot of expectations, as a youngster the binding makes one dislike being tied up. One yearns for the carefree college days, yet the money and priorities, make the job an inseparable part with embellishments and trouncing of life.

 Nine year old Nipun was Anjali’s next door neighbour, the family had moved in a few years back after the resident owners sold it to them. Anjali met little Nipun many times on holidays as he would prance around with his aunt in the corridors or in the garden. He would always smile and introduce Anjali to his aunt who was his father’s sister. After a year Nipun’s aunt got married and moved away to another town, leaving Nipun forlorn and lost. His grandmother lived with them to take care of Nipun as both his parents were working. It was during these difficult days that he began visiting Anjali at home. His gloomy eyes made Anjali dismal, and she spoke to him thoughtfully. Nipun was time and again reminded of his aunt. He looked forward to visit Anjali, he would spend long hours with her and her husband Arun.

Nipun loved dancing, he would pester Anjali to watch him dance. He wanted the song of his choice to be played. He would then be transformed into a dancer. Anjali would watch him mesmerised as he danced better than those in the reality shows. She wondered whether he went to dance classes. He went for none of those classes. He was passionate, and watched the reality dance shows deeply. He wanted to be a part of theses shows, but the irony was that no one knew about his passion, his parents shoed him away asking him to study. Nipun was zealous about Karate. He began teaching Arun and Anjali the kicks and moves. They would slip away with the fear of getting hurt as Nipun hurled himself into the tough moves. He was definitely a black belt as he professed.

Anjali and Nipun grew closer during the long hours Nipun spent on holidays. He would help Anjali by keeping her busy with his talk as she carried out her household chores. He would barge in at ten in the night or at seven in the morning, but he found Anjali to be his best friend. His parents were engrossed in their world of annoying each other or in the blame game of not having achieved enough. At times they would quarrel loudly, Anjali would quickly bring little Nipun to her house to avoid unpleasantness.

One day Anjali was pushing soiled clothes into the washing machine  and hurriedly cleaning up the next room too. In a bid to do too many things, she had accidently dropped a little detergent on the floor. With water a slippery puddle pulled her down. Though the fall was a minor one her arms got dislocated from the socket. Anjali saw that the washing machine was about to topple on her, she painfully managed to put it in place and dragged herself to the mobile phone to call Arun who was quick to understand the situation. An ambulance was called and within minutes Anjali  was rolled into the hospital. Nipun rushed downstairs, he caught Arun and whispered, “ how’s aunty, will she be alright? Anjali recovered and came back home much to Nipun’s happiness. He began teaching Karate to the couple with the same fervour, but would pause and ask Anjali to take care of her hand. He would ask her to use the left hand as he did not want her to go back to the hospital.   He would fantasize about playing Tennis matches and narrate all his dreams and aspirations  to Anjali.

One of those days, Nipun’s school was  celebrating Father’s Day. All the fathers were sent special invitations. Nipun’s father felt it was a frivolous waste of time. He said Nipun could stay back and study at home. Nipun rushed to Anjali as usual to express his annoyance. Nipun caught Anjali’s hand and pleaded her to attend the Father’s Day celebrations. Anjali looked at Nipun lovingly, she could see tears in his eyes, she assured she would come. The next day, Nipun was ready before time, he was eager to take Anjali to his school. As he stepped into the parking there was a huge family waiting for Nipun. Nipun’s parents, Grandmother, Arun and Anjali. Nipun yelled out in delight, hugged Anjali for he knew his parents would never disagree with Anjali’s decision. It was a day filled with blessings and gratitude, perhaps the best Father’s day celebration for Nipun.

“The path of development is a journey of discovery that is clear only in retrospect, and it’s rarely a straight line.” ― Eileen Kennedy-Moore